Chinese Character: 龄
1. Character Basics
Radical: 齿 (chǐ, tooth radical)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: líng (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Age; years; lifespan; life; longevity; duration; period; time; term; phase; stage; seniority; vintage; calendar age; chronological age; biological age; mental age
4. Common Words
- 年龄 (niánlíng) - Age
- 高龄 (gāolíng) - Advanced age; senior years
- 年龄组 (niánlíng zǔ) - Age group
- 年龄段 (niánlíng duàn) - Age bracket
- 工龄 (gōnglíng) - Length of service; seniority
- 学龄 (xuélíng) - School age
- 婚龄 (hūnlíng) - Marriageable age
- 寿龄 (shòulíng) - Lifespan; longevity
5. Grammar & Usage
As a noun: Primarily refers to age, lifespan, or a period of time. Often used in compound words to indicate different types of age or time periods. In formal contexts, it can also refer to seniority or the duration of service in a particular field.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, age (龄) holds significant importance in social interactions and hierarchical relationships. Traditional Chinese society placed great value on respecting elders based on their age, which is reflected in Confucian teachings. Age is also celebrated in various traditions, such as birthday celebrations and the concept of "longevity" (长寿) which is highly valued in Chinese culture.
7. Example Sentence
她的年龄和我差不多。
Her age is similar to mine.
8. Memory Tips
The character 龄 consists of 齿 (chǐ, tooth) on the left and 令 (lìng, order/command) on the right. You can remember this by associating teeth with age—our teeth change as we age, and they're often used as an indicator of age in animals. The right side 令 helps with pronunciation (líng is similar to lìng).